The Kuehns: Our own Chinese New Year

This time last year, we were wrapping up our two week visit to China! It was a whirlwind of a trip that changed us from a nice, neat family of four, to the crazy, messy family of five we are today! In so many ways, that trip seems like an eternity ago! Has it really been only a year since we boarded that BIG plane in China and brought Eli home to Georgia? You know how people always tell you that "time flies" and "enjoy it while you can," and "they are only young once"...the list goes on and on. We've all heard and them and we're probably all guilty of saying one of these phrases to some poor parent just holding onto their sanity with a thin string, feeling like each day lasts a lifetime, thinking I don't want to hear that right now! That's how this year has felt in some ways, like each day was an eternity, never coming to an end, slowly dragging on as we trudged through our changes and transitions. It feels like years ago that we left China as a family of 5. And, yet, in other ways, it feels like this year has zoomed by! And, now I have this crazy, messy family that I love and I can't imagine any other way. So, here we are today...one year later, with so much to celebrate!

And, celebrate is what we have done the last couple of weeks (while also battling car batteries dying, strep throat, Eli's many doctor's appointments, etc...the usual). This past Sunday, Eli was baptized at church! It is something we've wanted to do since we brought him home, but we waited until he was ready. And, with this past week being a year from the day we first met him and he joined our family (known as his Gotcha Day in the adoption world), we felt like this was the perfect time to also celebrate his place in God's family as well. And, in our family, we like celebrations to be big. Why celebrate just one thing, when you can celebrate MANY?! So, we celebrated Eli's birthday, Gotcha Day and baptism all in one week! I'm wondering now though if he will expect to be baptized each year on his birthday. :-) It was a special day with our church friends and our family. We had Chinese food, which still makes Eli smile, and Batman Cake! I mean, what says You are Loved more that Batman Cake!? The cake came complete with Eli's very own Batman mask. He loved it! Eli has this crazy love of all things batman. And, I realized the other day, that he and Bruce Wayne (Batman's secret identity) have a lot in common. They are both orphans and survivors. They are both brave and strong. And, they are both super heroes in my book! So, here's to Eli, our Chinese Super Hero! Our family is so much better with you in it! And...Happy Chinese New Year!